Document Retention

2nd-level Compliance & Risk

Casting Time: 1 action
Range/Area: Touch, one document, policy, or record
Components: V, S, M (a folder containing no fewer than six versions of the same file, none labeled as final, consumed)
Duration: Until dispelled, or until the applicable retention period lapses (commonly seven years), whichever is later
Classes: General Counsel, Compliance Officer, Records Custodian

The touched document becomes warded against identification. For the duration, any attempt to determine which existing copy is the authoritative or final version — including attempts made using Analytics & Forecasting magic — automatically fails unless the caster wishes otherwise. A creature making such an attempt instead locates a plausible copy that is not the authoritative version, and has no means of determining that it is not.

Whenever a creature initiates a formal attempt to compel disclosure of the authoritative version, such as a legal discovery request, the caster’s organization must succeed on a Discovery saving throw or the true version is revealed to that creature. The saving throw is made using the proficiency bonus of whichever Records Custodian is currently assigned to the document; if no Records Custodian can be identified, the document is treated as having automatically failed the save.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the ward extends to cover every document, policy, or record related to the same underlying matter, rather than a single document, for each slot level above 2nd. Additionally, the caster’s organization has advantage on all Discovery saving throws made to protect a warded record.

Flavor: “Please see attached for the most up-to-date version — let me know if you have any questions!” — email, forwarded fourteen times, no two attachments identical